Summary in English
Does the Church always tell the Truth?Hopefully the answer is yes but I know at least one case where it didn't. My purpose of writing this post is to demonstrate that what seems to be the truth, is not
always just that. In other words, be critical and check your
sources.Let's get
to the point. The greatgrandfather of our youngest grandson Tobias is born in
Amsterdam on April 4, 1880. His first name is Frans. His family name is Schulze, which is his mother's name, the father being unknown. (Please see illustration #1 above for Frans' birth declaration.)

Also the
Amsterdam population register shows Frans with last name Schulze. (#2) He lives
at the house he was born, 100 Marnixstraat, together with his foster parents
mr. and mrs. Box-Scheeffer.

When
searching Frans' biological father I also visited the site of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a.k.a. the Mormons. My first input was the name of Frans'
mother. I had some hopes to find a later marriage with someone who could
possibly be the father of Frans. After typing the name of Maria Johanna
Francisca Schulze, the list shown above with #3 underneath popped up.

Never
before during my genealogical "career" did I find a biological father
so quick! In the third entry a spouse is mentioned, his name is Maurits Meijers.
The couple is even blessed with a son named Frans! It can't miss, this must be
my Frans! Or not? His last name does not match with the name shown in the
population register. So maybe it is yet another Frans. To see what else pops up
I clicked om Maria's name. This produced illustration #4.

There it
becomes clear that the birth dates of both Franses match: April 4, 1880. But where does the name of father Maurits Meijers come from? Fortunately the source document is
shown as well. However, when magnifying that document, it appears to be the birth
certificate #1…

And then it becomes clear where the Mormons mix up
the facts. Although Maurits Meijers is mentioned in the birth declaration, he
is not the father but the person making the declaration. He is the M.D. in
charge of the delivery of Frans who subsequently went to the town hall to make
the declaration. Usually it is the father doing that. But then that is
mentioned in the declaration (see #5).

Please note also that Maurits Meijers does not live at the address of the mother (100 Marnixstraat) but at 17 Marnixkade.

All this demonstrates that if input of data is not properly checked by people who know what is going on, vital mistakes are made. Mistakes which in this case will lead the less sceptical genealogist to believe that a Frans Meijers, born in Amsterdam on April 4, 1880, truly existed. And so truth is being violated by this Church. However, the fact remains that anyone copying this information has his/her own responsability to check the source.

Credits are due to mrs. M.L. from Z. who pointed out this "fact" to me.